Navy Reserve Moms

Although my son is at Wichita Falls, not Pensacola, it seems there can be a holding time until enough new people come in to form a new class and staff are available.  Six weeks does sound like a long time.  They do try to keep them busy in the meantime, and, on the bright side, the new sailors are getting paid.  :-)  The wait can be hard, especially if you are a reservist and have to negotiate the civilian side of life as well (even more so if you are married).

My son is in A School now and it looks like he will be there until February.  Do they ever allow reservists in A school to go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas? 

Hi everyone!  I am new to the site.  My son's PIR is Sept 20th.  I'm so glad to find this support site for Moms!  The news that he wanted to join the Navy was unexpected, but he researched it and thought about for quite a while.  He has his Associate's degree and his recruiter urged him to go Reserves and continue on with his Bachelor's.  We are so very proud of this huge step he has taken. 

I am so thankful for this site - it helps tremendously.  Ben is currently at Great Lakes Ship 02 Div 948 and will be heading to San Antonio MAA A School afterwards - his graduation date is 10/11 - thanks again for those who contribute to this site. 

Hello to All Navy Reservists Moms!  My son arrived at Dam neck on 9/7.  Does anyone else have a loved one who is at Dam neck and also in the reserves?

Thanks. (Pam)

From what my son has learned..he has to stay reservist for 2 years. Then after that time they can request to go active. It will all depend on if the Navy needs that particular rate or not before they can sign into an active duty contract.

My stepson was talked into joining as a reservist by his recruiter as well. According to the recruiter, he can request a 'full time' assignment after A-School so that he doesnt have to wait out the 2 yrs to go full active duty. Also according to his recruiter, my stepsons job (CTN) is undermanned so there is a possibility of him finding a full time assignment after A school depending on the need. 

It is possible to convert from Reserve to Active duty - it's called an RC to AC conversion. It does depend on a few things such as year group (which is a calculation dependent on the amount of service they have already done, and when they enlisted), rate and needs of the Navy (as always).  Your Sailor's Career Counselor at the NOSC should have all the information needed.  The process takes anywhere from a month to 6 months, but then they will be regular Active Duty.

ski-nanny - thanks for that fantastic information! We were led to believe that it would take much longer, this gives us much more hope!!

jeepgirl, the following link has the information - you may need to scroll down, it's one of the MILPERSMAN instructions  that you will need to click on -  http://www.public.navy.mil/BUPERS-NPC/ENLISTED/COMMUNITY/SELRES/Pag...

So my son got his orders to report to the local reserve office..It says 17 days. Does he stay there for 17 days or does he just report there each day for that time period?

Welcome Tina!

Thanks flgirltwo!
Yesterday afternoon Cody left, last night was nuts for me...today seems a bit better, maybe because I'm back at work.....BUT I got my "I'm here" call last night...later than I had anticipated, but it came! and Cody is good! Looking forward to the next contact!

Glad you got the I'm here call!  That always sets your mind at peace!  Start writing those letters!  You'll get the address in the not too distant future and you can get them in the mail!  And remember we are here anytime you need support!

Thanks so much flgirltwo - today was Cody's 3rd wake up at RTC... I so far have 2 letters written, a "jokes" page and a word search for him...I'm sure my obsessing will die down eventually! LOL
Are you a "new mom" or a "veteran mom" :o)?

@Tina - I guess I'm somewhat of a veteran mom - my son's been in for 1-1/2 years now.  He's AWF, stationed at Jacksonville with VR-62.  Working 2 jobs plus the navy reserve!  He was at A school at Pensacola.  So I do know quite a bit - but I seem to learn more everyday!  lol!

At first he was fine with it, then he was upset by it, now he is fine with it again.  Because he can volunteer for deployments, he's got a great crew that he works with, AND he finally got a job (2 actually).  At first even though he was well qualified for jobs - he wasn't hired and I'm sure it was because they didn't want to give up the time for training/drills of the reserve.  Of course they can't say that - but I'm sure that is what it was.  It's a bit harder to get his wings, he has to go up more than the 1X a month to get the quals he will need within the 18 month time frame, but the reserves are great about it and encourage him.

Nope, at least not for my son.  He has 18 months to finish all his quals and get his wings or he'll be re-rated.  Maybe it depends on what his rate is to begin with.  Not sure!

Good Morning Flgirltwo,  wondering if I could ask you a few questions.  My son is in Pensacola hopefully will start A school next week he was delayed a week with all that has been going on.  anyway he is looking forward to starting college next August.  I am just a little concerned that he might start school then be pulled out due to his Navy responsibilities.  I guess I really dont understand the reserve status that well.  Has your son had any situations like this?  Thanks

No, my son hasn't been deployed except for what he has volunteered for to help with his quals.  But they can deploy them at any time as needed and they will lose their semester at school as Vbriggs said.  Luckily, my son got his C school in during the summer and that counted as his 2 weeks.  He is supposed to have a mission on Thurs for a few days - but not sure what will happen with shutdown.  He says that he was booked for it before shutdown, so it's still a go!  Guess I'll find out when he texts me!  lol!    Vbriggs - that sux for him!  Standing watch and cleaning.  Any outlook on when and where C school is?  I guess shutdown will really push things back.  ARGGG!!!!

My hubby is going to basic dec 2013 and he is FTS.. would love to know how fts life looks compared to enlisted if there is an difference and what u have learned :0) Thanks Dani

Hi All, I'm new to this group.  My son just returned from MA School and is a reservist.  When the gov't shut down, he wasn't able to report to our local NOSC. He doesn't meet until November.  What happens from here?  He would like to go active, is that a realistic possibility? He has gotten different answers from different people in the Navy.    

GiaMarie65 - he'll report for drill in November and do his INDOC with the Reserve Center then.  It is a possibility to go active from reserve, especially as an MA since there are current openings, but it will depend on his year group.  have him check all the links out on the following web page - http://www.public.navy.mil/BUPERS-NPC/CAREER/RESERVEPERSONNELMGMT/E...  This will tell him whether he is qualified.  He should also talk to his unit/command career counselor.  The whole process should take @ 3 months or less, depending on the command and how much experience they have had with the paperwork since it's a new program and some NOSCs may not have dealt with it before.  Send me a message if you have any other questions - my sailor is an MA has has just done the RC to AC conversion.

Also, GiaMarie, he should report to the NOSC before his Nov drill date - the NOSCs are still manned.  He'll need to update his MYPay info, and Tricare.  As for going Active, it will be sea duty first, which for MA's can be a shore billet overseas BUT he can request an actual ship.

Thanks so much ski-nanny!  I am going to get him on this right away.  I'll keep you posted.

Hi Tina. She graduated BC 11/8, we just spent a wonderful weekend with her. :o) She's doing well. She was re-rated during the govt shutdown and they basically gave her one choice or she would be separated. She's an Engineman, She's not really interested in this path but is doing it because it's the only choice she had. I am thankful that she enjoyed BC, and really likes the military lifestyle. She's got a great attitude, and says if she doesn't like it she can re-rate. So she's determined to do what needs to be done, and will do it to her best ability. Oh, and she found out the last week of BC that they put her on iron pills and she could have gotten a medical waiver and continued on her original path. That has upset me, and I've tried not to let her see that, because I don't want to discourage her. But, as I've said, she can change later. She does talk about becoming active duty and changing to either aircrew or possibly becoming an RDC, because she enjoyed BC so much. Lots of things can happen int he next 2 years, so we'll see what happens. :o)

Good luck to your SR! I'm sure he'll go on to do great things in Aircrew :o)

OH that is great elsmom!! Congratulation on your Sailor!!!

I too would be upset to find out afterthefact there was something that could have been done...unfortunately in the 30+ years I've been "living with" the military that is a standard practice a lot of the time. There are several guys I served with that I found back at our old stomping grounds as Instructors at our Tech School, that is great she likes the idea of doing that - good teachers are ALWAYS needed!!
Best of luck to her!!

Thank you! I'm hoping he gets through!! Its been a scary trip so far...this Rate is so picky - yet doesn't warrant an 800 division...go figure! :o)

My son took 1 1/2 years to get a full-time contract with a designation 'close' to his reservist rate.  For those interested in changing their contracts from Reservist to AD once they are signed, patience is a virtue.  He's still not doing the rate he'd prefer, but he hopes to work his way back into that designation while AD and in the meantime, the new rate is good...meaning it is a better fit for him than many he was offered before this one came up.  Some may be able to change their contracts in a lot less time, but it really is up to the Needs of the Navy whether there is an openning in that rate.  Good luck to all!

Hello All, I have a question. My wife (Reserve) went in 1/8/14 and has a PIR of 2/28/14, then she is off to Dam Neck for 89 Calendar days of A school. Question I have will the Navy pay us to get her car to her, and once she has her car will the Navy allow her to drive home after she completes A school. What happens after she complete A school? What happens once she finishes A school. Sorry I am scattered brained. Please Help. Thanks All.

hi!  i am new here and have a zillion questions.  my son lives in a different state than me and enlisted to the navy reserve.  he is to swear in 2/3 and leave for rtc/bc on the 4th or 5th.  after pir what happens?  does he go home, go to a school...what?  i am flying to see him before he leaves but it will not give me time to get all my questions answered.  i am so thankful for this site.  i will be doing a lot of lurking!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this group, but have been on N4M for the duration of my sailor's BC. She just graduated BC last week, and is now in A school. I was just wondering if anyone has information about the 'path' that HM reservists take? I haven't come across much definite information, and have been hearing different things here and there. If anyone has an experience/knowledge about what I might expect in the near future (in terms of what happens after A school), I'd appreciate some tips! Thank you all in advance :)

Hi,

I am also very new to this. I hope I can get some info from you all. My daughter leaves for BC on 3/25/14. I'm such a new b I really am not sure what happens now.

What should I know about the swearing in.I am going to that. I want to know about the graduation and what I should know before she leaves.

Thank you all :))

Hi Navy Reserves Mom.  My son is worried that he wont make it to College in the Fall even though his class ends in Early August.  Does anyone have a child that did A school and then went back home to attend college?  School starts Sept 3rd.

If college is in your future the best thing is to enroll now- get all the paperwork done.  Exactly when you get out of training is up to the Navy- and colleges hate last minute enrollments after their deadlines which can be months in advance.   Many colleges have military affairs/veteran  desks- they can be helpful.  Also your sailor will have transfer credits to apply to their college- but this is a paperwork intensive process.  We found it was complicated to design a future course plan to properly use the Navy transfer credits- this needs help from the school.   And it is good to find a school that has a spring term that ends early- so you are not trying to go to your two weeks of duty during finals. 

Hello everyone.  My daughter left for BC on 7-9-14.  I just received her box and am waiting (not so patiently) for the letter to arrive and tell me when PIR is.  I can't wait!!!  She is going in as FTS CS so it should be an interesting adventure.  I never pictured her as a cook, so this should be fun. :)